This is the second episode of the Virginia Political Podcast.

In this episode, I talk to Dr. Danny Avula, City Councilor Andreas Addison, Harrison Roday and Maurice Neblett about their campaigns for mayor. Former City Council Chair Michelle Mosby’s campaign did not answer my phone call to be included in the episode.

An overview of the candidates:

Avula 

• Danny Avula was the director of the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts for six years. 
• He led the statewide Covid-19 vaccination effort under Gov. Northam
• He served as the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services in Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration 

Roday 

• He worked in the Obama administration and for Tim Kaine 
• He founded Bridging Virginia, a Richmond-based non-profit community development fund that provides access to capital for Black women, and minority-owned small businesses.
• He worked in the private sector and founded a software company. 

Michelle Mosby

• She was the first first African American woman to lead Richmond's City Council,
• She is an entrepreneur who launched her first business—a cosmetology salon 20 years ago, which is still open today. 
• She also works in real estate. 

Andreas Addison

• A small business owner and current member of City Council. He was first elected in 2016. 
• Before that, he worked for the City of Richmond as a management analyst and civic innovator.

Maurice Neblett 

• Grew up in Richmond and believes his life experiences growing up in Richmond will help him run the city as it should be.

Money raised:

• Danny Avula raised $1,357,943
• Harrison Roday raised $1,292,781
• Michelle Mosby raised $366,456
• Andreas Addison raised $187,375
• Maurice Neblett raised $7,708

Listen to the full episode at the link on the top of this newsletter.